Iraq War veteran Jim Mowrer is projected to win his Iowa House Democratic primary, setting him up to take on vulnerable freshman Rep. David Young (R-Iowa) in the fall.
Mower, who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in 2014, defeated businessmen Desmund Adams and Mike Sherzan.
{mosads}Mowrer landed endorsements from prominent Iowa Democrats and influential labor unions, and outraised both of his primary opponents. But Sherzan was able to financially keep pace by largely self-funding.
Young fended off a GOP primary challenge from retired teacher Joe Grandanette. His seat has become a top House target for Democrats. In March, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved the race from “lean Republican” to “toss-up” when it became clear Donald Trump or Ted Cruz would top the GOP ticket.
Former Rep. Tom Latham (R) held the Des Moines-area seat for decades, but voters there backed President Obama narrowly in the last two presidential elections.